NO fewer than seven of the third McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars hurling team hold Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup medals.
Cross & Passion, Ballycastle are the current cup holders and they have nailed down four places on the team announced at a gala dinner in Queen’s on Tuesday evening. The other three medal holders are from St Killian’s, Garron Tower who defeated CPC in last year’s decider.
Liam Glackin is busy collecting jerseys this week. He slots in at centre-half back on this team and tomorrow evening he will attend the Danske Bank Allstars awards dinner to pick up a midfield jersey for that team.
The other Cross & Passion Future Stars are Loughgiel pair Roan McGarry and Ronan Fitzgerald and McQuillan’s stick man Conor Donnelly, whose brother Cathair was in last year’s team.
Calum McIlwaine was player of the match in last year’s Foresters’ Cup final for St Killian’s and he links up with Callagh Mooney and Oran McCambridge in this Queen’s selection. Oran is a son of former Antrim and Ulster forward Conor “Monty” McCambridge, who incidentally was an Allstar alongside Calum’s dad Pádraig some 30 years ago.
There are also four players from St Louis, Ballymena in the team, goalie Caolán McFerran, full-back Seán Óg Blaney, midfielder Paudie Martin and Ryan O’Boyle in corner-forward.
That means that 11 of the 15 jerseys have been claimed by players from north Antrim.
Three of the other four spots go down the Ards peninsula to players from three different schools.
Portaferry club-mates Leigh Morgan (Red High) and Cathal Coleman (St Columba’s) are joined by Ballygalget’s Ben Teggart, player of the match in this year’s Foresters’ Cup final for Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock.
Odd man out is Déaglán Mac Con Midhe who follows on from Mikey Kennedy in last year’s team with a second award for Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.
Padraic McKeever managing director of McKeever Sports who sponsored the awards said:
“We are delighted to be involved with the Queen’s Future Stars programme and are always proud to be involved in showcasing the talent, pride, and passion of the students around the country.
“We are committed to continuously finding new ways of improving the performance of our products, and in turn the athletes who wear them. Our goal is to bring freshness, innovation, and excellent service to each of our customers.
“We look forward to the success of all the Queens Future Stars athletes in 2023 and beyond.”
HURLING TEAM
Caolán McFerran (St Louis’, Ballymena)
Déáglán Mac ConMidhe (Gaelcholáiste Dhoire)
Seán óg Blaney (St Louis’, Ballymena)
Leigh Morgan (St Patrick’s, Downpatrick)
Callagh Mooney (St Killian’s, Garron Tower)
Liam Glackin (Cross & Passion, Ballycastle)Ben Teggart (Our Lady & St Patrick’s, Knock)
Paudie Martin (St Louis’, Ballymena)
Ronan Fitzgerald (Cross & Passion, Ballycastle)
Calum McIlwaine (St Killian’s, Garron Tower)
Cathal Coleman (St Columba’s, Portaferry)
Conor Donnelly (Cross & Passion, Ballycastle)
Ryan O’Boyle (St Louis’, Ballymena)
Oran McCambridge (St Killian’s, Garron Tower)
Roan McGarry (Cross & Passion, Ballycastle)
